Hanger for paintings and the like



NOV. 15, 1966 COOK HANGER FOR PAINTINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 1, 1964 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. 7.

FIG.

ROGER ALLEN COOK INVENTOR v ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,285,549 HANGER FOR PAINTINGS AND THE LIKE Roger Allen Cook, 105 Magnolia Drive, San Antonio, Tex. Filed Dec. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 415,062 4 Claims. (Cl. 24831) The present invention relates to a hanger for paintings and the like and more particularly to such a hanger which permits the said painting to be adjustable vertically to any desired height.

At the present time, art galleries and museums hang a relatively large number of paintings, which exhibits require a great deal of time and labor in hanging. In many cases, one person cannot raise a painting to the proper viewing height and then secure the painting to the wall. Also, although most paintings are not extremely heavy, it is often difficult to hold a painting in a raised position with one hand and then reach behind the frame with the other hand to secure the painting to the wall or other supporting structure.

The subject invention relates to a novel hanger for paintings and the like whereby the said painting may easily be hung by one person, with a minimum of effort. Furthermore, after affixing the .painting to the wall, it may be leveled and in a modification of the invention, additionally secured to the supporting structure.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a hanger which enables one person to conveniently hang paintings and similar objects with a minimum of effort.

Another object is to provide such a device which permits the user to raise or lower a painting and the like to the proper viewing height and also level the painting.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which includes means whereby the said painting is additionally secured to the supporting structure.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of such a device which is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, capable of mass production techniques, easy to use, and is universal in adaptability.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying sheet of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 wherein the device is used to secure a painting, shown in dotted line portions, to a supporting structure.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of the device taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section of the device taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the transverse axis of the arm.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a modification of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing the manner of securing a painting or the like, shown in dotted line portions, to the embodiment of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention. The hanger 10, in general, consists of a rod 11 and an adjustable member 12 slidably positioned thereon.

More particularly, an eye 11a is formed, in a conventional manner, on the upper end of said rod. A screw 13 or the like passes through the eye 11a and secures the "ice hanger .to the supporting structure 14-, as best seen in FIG. 2. The rod 11 is bent downwardly and outwardly below the said eye as indicated by reference numeral 11b, and thence vertically downward, 110. An offset portion 11d, or the like, is formed in the lower end of the rod providing a stop for the member 12, hereinafter to be described. In the preferred embodiment, the over-all length of the said rod 11 is approximately six inches. However, it is to be understood that a rod of any desired length may be utilized. In a modification of the invention, not shown, the upper end of an elongated rod is provided with a hook; said hook may be secured to hook molding, such as is well known to the art, which is often provided along the walls and ceiling of art galleries and museums, and the painting suspended therefrom. The lower end of said rod may additionally be provided with an eye to aid in'elevating the painting or similar object to the desired height.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, member 12 consists of an arm 12a which is pivotally connected to an essentially L-shaped piece 1211. More particularly, piece 12b is integrally formed and includes a base 120, a per.- pendicularly upturned lower front 12d, an outwardly and upwardly extending medial portion 122, and a vertically extending upper front 12]. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, rectangular recesses 120-1-120-2 are provided in each side of the base 120, said recesses extend into the lower front 12d and terminate slightly above the plane of the upper surface of base 120. Rectangular recesses 12d-1- 12d2 are also provided in each side of front 12d at the upper end thereof, which recesses accommodate the spaced, upwardly turned projections 12a-112a2 integrally formed on each side of arm 12a. The vertically extending front 121 is bifurcated, as indicated by reference numerals 12f-1-12f-2.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the rear end of the arm 12a and base 120 are shown to be curved and an aligned bore 12a312c3, respectively, is provided adjacent the rear end of the said elements; the rod 11 passes through the said bores in tight fitting relationship. A coil spring 15 is carried by the rod, the ends of said spring bear against the lower surface of arm 12a. and the upper surface of base 120, respectively. It is obvious that when arm 12a is depressed by applying a force thereagainst, the bores 12a3, 12c-3 are in alignment and the member 12 may be raised or lowered to any desired position on the rod. When such force is released, however, as illustrated I in FIG. 5, the spring 15 forces against the lower surface of arm 12a. causing the upper left and the lower right edges of the bore 12a-3 to bear against the said rod.

In use, a screw 16 or the like is inserted into the rear, vertical frame portions of a painting P or similar object approximately one inch from the outer edge thereof and the head of said screw placed between the bifurcated portions 12/f-1, 12f-2. The user may conveniently reach behind the painting P and place his thumb and forefinger on the arm 12a and base 12c and adjust the hanger to the desired height in the manner hereto-fore described. The opposite side of the painting is secured to the supporting structure in like manner.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, there is shown a modification of the invention whereby a painting P or the like is secured to the supporting structure 14. An S-shaped element 17, constructed of rod, is connected to the hanger 10 and painting P, respectively. More specifically, an upper hook 17a is passed over the reduced portion 12c-4 of the base and the sides thereof insert in the recesses -1, 120-2. The lower end of said element is provided with an eye 17b through which a screw 18 or other conventional securing means may pass and insert into the rear frame portions of the painting or similar object. Such embodiment is not only adjustable vertically in the manner heretofore described, but also provides security for the painting as required by many art galleries and museums.

It is to be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only preferred embodiments of the invention and that numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for hanging framed paintings or the like upon a supporting structure comprising a rod, an eye in the upper end of said rod and stop means in the lower end of said rod, an adjustable member slidably mounted on said rod, said adjustable member consisting of an essentially L-s'haped piece and an arm, said L-shaped piece including a base and an upstanding front portion, said arm pivotally connected to said upstanding front portion, a coil spring carried by said rod and interposed between said base and said arm, and bifurcated means in the upstanding front portion for attaching a paintingthereto.

2. A device for hanging frame-d paintings or the like upon a supporting structure comprising an elongated rod, a fastening device in the upper end of said rod and a stop in the lower end thereof, an adjustable member slidably mounted on said rod, said adjustable member consisting of an L-shaped piece and an arm, said L-shaped piece including a base and an essentially perpendicularly upstanding front portion, said arm pivotally connected to said upstanding front portion, an aligned bore in said arm and said base to accommodate said rod in close fitting relationship, a spring carried by said rod and inter- .posed between said base and said arm, and bifurcated means in the upstanding front portion for attaching said pain-ting.

-3. A device for hanging framed paintings or the like upon a supporting structure comprising a rod, an eye in the upper end of said rod and stop means in the lower end of said rod, an adjustable member slidably mounted on said rod, said adjustable member consisting of an essential-1y L-shaped piece and an arm, said L-shaped piece including a base and an upstanding front portion, said arm pivotally connected to said upstanding front portion, a coil spring carried by said rod and inter-posed between said base and said arm, recessed portions in said L-shaped piece, and securing means attached .to the L-shaped .piece and passed through the recessed portions therein for securing a painting to the device.

4. A device for hanging framed paintings or the like upon a supporting structure comprising a rod, an eye in the upper end of said rod and stop means in the lower end of said rod, an adjustable member slidably mounted on said rod, said adjustable member consisting of an essentially -L-shaped piece and an arm, said L-shaped piece including a base and an upstanding front portion, said arm pivotally connected to said upstanding front portion, a coil spring carried by said rod and interposed between said base and said arm, recessed portions in said L-shaped piece, and S-shaped securing means passed through the recessed portions and attached to said L-shaped piece for securing a painting to the device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 397,280 1/1889 Jaeger 248-31 722,31 1 3/ 1903 Magerhans 24831 1,906,591 5/1933 Hickey 248233 2,943,831 7/1960 Goss 248-31 3,172,608 3/1965 Ausman 248317 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

JOHN PETO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR HANGING FRAMED PRINTINGS OR THE LIKE UPON A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A ROD, AN EYE IN THE UPPER END OF SAID ROD AND STOP MEANS IN THE LOWER END OF SAID ROD, AN ADJUSTABLE MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROD, SAID ADJUSTABLE MEMBER SONSISTING OF AN ESSENTIALLY L-SHAPED PIECE AND AN ARM, SAID L-SHAPED PIECE INCLUDING A BASE AND AN UPSTANDING FRONT PORTION, SAID ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID UPSTANDING FRONT PORTION, A COIL SPRING CARRIED BY SAID ROD AND INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID BASE AND SAID ARM, AND BIFURCATION MEANS IN THE UPSTANDING FRONT PORTION FOR ATTACHING A PAINTING THERETO. 